Raipur, June 26: Normal life was disrupted today in Naxal-infested areas of Chhattisgarh on the first day of a 48- hour economic blockade called by Maoists to protest against Special Economic Zones and the economic policies of the Central and state governments.

"The impact of the economic blockade could be witnessed in many parts of the state, spread across the three regions of Bastar, Sarguja and Raipur. However, no incident has been reported so far from any part of the state," a source in the police headquarters said here.

Reports reaching here said both train and road traffic were disrupted in many parts of the state due to the blockade.

Transportation of iron ore from Bailadila continued to be affected today as railway lines were damaged by Naxalites in Dantewada district yesterday. Passenger trains were also cancelled in the Bastar region today, police said.

Bijapur was hit by a blackout for the third consecutive day today after Maoists destroyed two electricity towers in landmine blasts on Sunday night. To enforce the blockade, Maoists also felled trees to disrupt road communications in many places.

Vehicles stayed off the roads in many places as the rebels had targeted passenger buses in Bastar and Sarguja regions during their last protest, police said. Maoists kept schools and weekly markets out of the purview of the blockade.

The Maoists blew up the two towers in the Bhairamgarh jungle, about 550 km from the state capital, plunging the whole of Bijapur district into darkness since Sunday night. Officials said repair work was now underway.

Rail services hit

Maoists blew up railway tracks in Latehar, causing a freight train to derail, as the 48-hour economic blockade called by them paralysed rail traffic and affected life in Naxal strongholds in Jharkhand today.

Maoists used dynamite to blast the tracks, leading to derailment of 22 wagons and the engine of a freight train between Chetar and Richuguta stations last night, senior public relations officer Amerandra Das said.

Another length of track was blasted between Mangra halt and Barwadih near Latehar, he said. Maoists also dragged a truck onto a level crossing on the Grand Chord line near Parasanth Outer last night. Police later removed the truck, Das said. Train services were badly affected between Gomo-Barkakana and Garwah Road and Barkakana, railways officials said.

Railway authorities had yesterday cancelled all passenger trains on the Gomo-Barkakana route and the Palamau Express on the CIC section in Dhanbad. Though police were on patrol, long distance buses stayed off the roads.